Artificial larynx



Dec. 17, 1935. R, R. RIESZ ARTIFICIAL LARYNX 2 Shets-Sheet l IN VE N TO R R. R. R/ESZ ATTORNEY Dec. 17, 1935.

R. R. RIESZ ARTIFICIAL LARYNX Filed March 3, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 8

FIG. 7

[III] IIII IIIIIIIIIIJ INVENTOR R.R.R/E$Z A T TORNE Y Patented Dec. 17,1935

UNITED STATES ATNT to Bell Telephone Laboratories,

N. Y., a corporation of New York,

Incorporated, New York Application March 3, 1933, Serial No. 659,452

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an artificial larynx which is intended to enable a person, who has had the natural larynx removed, to simulate speech.

More particularly, the invention relates to an artificial larynx of the vibrating reed type which is operated by an air stream from the users lungs.

Difilculty has been experienced in the operation of a larynx of this type because the air stream from the users lungs is moisture laden, and. this moisture content deposits in large part on the reed of the larynx causing the reed to become Wet and stick to associated portions of the larynx to render the latter inoperative.

An' object of this invention, therefore, is to remove substantially all of the moisture from the air stream from a users lungs'before it reaches the reed member of the larynx.

Another difiiculty experienced has been 'to maintain a substantially leak proof seal at the tracheotomy opening in the users throat. There are many people who can not or will not wear a tracheotomy tube, for instance, such as is shown in G. W. Burchett Patent 1,835,757, issued Decemher '8, 1931. Because of the irregularities of the front of the neck about the tracheotomy opening, a larynx can not be coupled to the trachea aperture without a large leak which results in greater required to operate the larynx than would be necessary if such leak were not present. A feature of this invention comprises positioning the sounding mechanism or vibratory member of the larynx such that the air stream must reverse in direction before acting thereon.

Another feature of this invention comprises the insertion in the inlet tube to the larynx of means'to remove moisture from the air stream.

A more complete understanding of this invention will be obtained from the detailed description which follows taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein:;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation in section of an artificial larynx embodying features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of the device of Fig. 1 along the line 2-2 with itsoutermost member or casing removed;

Fig. 3 is a view of the device of Fig. 1 along the line 3-3 with its outermost member removed;

Fig. 4 illustrates the artificial larynx of Fig. 1 and the tracheotomy co pling member in position for use;

Fig. 5 shows a structural modification of a feature of the larynx shown in Fig. 1;

V Fig. 6 shows another modification of the same feature;

' by bayonet connections Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the tracheotomy coupling member shown in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 8 is a side elevation partly broken away and partly in section of the coupling member of Fig. 7.

An artificial larynx embodying features of this invention is shown in Figs, 1 to 4. It comprises an outer cylindrical housing or casing til having an open end i l, a closed end l2, an air stream inlet l3 and a breath port or vent M. An insert member l5 having a central bore i6 is positioned in the open end of the casing being held therein l'i, ll. Tightly fitted into the bore It is one extremity of a larynx tone and air outlet 58 comprising a hollow elbow connection or member l9 and a mouth tube 20. The mouth tube is preferably of soft rubber and is adapted to be inserted in the mouth of the user of the larynx.

The sounding or tone producing mechanism 2! of the larynx comprises an enclosure or hollow member 23. The member 23 may be made from a half section. 24 of a longitudinally split tube, a flat plate 25 being soldered across the open side of the half section and having a turned-down endportion 26 soldered to and closing one end of the sound chamber 2? and a turned-up end portion ,28 which is secured, as by solder, to the inner surface of the insert member E5. The end portion 26 is pryamidal in shape for a purpose to be pointed out hereinafter. The plate 25 contains a substantially centrally located elongated aperture 22 and has its longitudinal edge portions turned over to form cooperative channels 29, 29 to receive a rectangular semi-soft rubber strip 30 and. a small plate 3| of rigid material. The rubber strip 36 is slid over the plate 25, is held at its edges in the channels 29, 29, and is provided with an elongated aperture 32 in alignment with the aperture 22 in the plate 25.

A metallic reed 33 is 23. It is fastened at its upper end against the plate 3! and its lower outwardly curved end extends over the aligned apertures in the strip 30 and plate 25. The effective vibrating length of the reed may be regulated by adjusting the position of the plate 34, the slot 35 enabling the vertical adjustment thereof. The reed and vibration length controlling plate are secured to the member 23 by any suitable fastening device, such as the screw 36 which threads through the plate 3| into the plate 25. The member 23 is positioned so that the air stream entering the casing 10 from the inlet l3 strikes first against the semicylindrical portion 26. In order to operate the supported on the member. 7

reed and to pass through the apertures 22 and 32, the sound chamber 21, and the outlet [8, the air stream must reverse its initial direction of flow through 180. The purpose of this arrangement is pointed out in detail hereinafter.

The air stream inlet I3 comprises tubular members 31, 38 having enlarged portions 39, 40 secured together by bayonet connections 4|, 4|. to form an annular enlargement 42. Within the portion 39 is secured, as by solder, a ring member 43 to which is fastened at its peripheral portion an air-perforate screen 44 of fabric or wire gauze. A similar ring member and screen is secured; as by solder, within the portion 4!). When these portions are connected as shown the screens are inspaced relation. Aligned apertures in the portions 39 and 40 provide a vent 52 to the atmosphere.

A modification of the air inlettis shown in'Fig; 5 in which the enlarged portions 39', 40' of the tubular members 31 and 38 are externally threaded'and are secured togetherby; 3x11111011 coupling 45. The spaced screen arrangement is-thesame, howevenas shown in Fig. 1..

In" Fig. 6, theair inlet is shown as comprising merely a tubular member 46, the end of which engages with the casing l maintaining a screen 4-l-of=;fabric or of wire gauzer-inthe .air inlet opening in the casing.

Difficulty hasb'een experienced in the operation of artificial larynges of the reed type by 'anair stream from the lungs of a user.- The moisture-in theair from the lungs hasbeen-found, because of temperature difference between theairirom the lungs'and the parts of the larynx, to: deposit on the reed and, larynx. partsadjacent: thereto causing the reed :to' become wet and to; stichto the adjacent parts of the; larynx and-to render the :latter inoperative. By positioning the reed carrying member 23 so that the air-stream does not'act directly-on-thereedwhen it enters-the larynx casing, but upon-the-extensive surface provided by the semi-cylindrical.portion of the member-'23; a large portion 'of 1 the moisture=in the= air:stream is caused to be deposited thereon before thez air stream reaches the reed. The low.- er-endZG-of the member 23 is pyramidal or pointed,=, as shown in Fig. 3, so that moisture deposited on the -member 23. may readily drip ofi to the closed end. I2 of the casing having egress through theyent or aperture 48 therein.. To keep-to a minimum .the moisture content of-the'air before it enters the larynx casing, the spaced screens 44, 44 shown in Figs. 1 and or the single screen 4 of Fig. 6:is provided. Thesescreensare of such mesh that they .do not impedethe fiow of air, but

do remove substantiallyall moisture-from the .air

passing therethrough.

The-air stream from the lungs-issuppiied to the larynx-through the conduit or tube which is connected to the tracheotomy coupling member 50. This member, shown moreclearly in Figs. 7 and -8, comprises a tracheotomy tube 5!. The endi portion-52 of this tube is adapted ache inserted in the tracheotomy opening in the users throat and to center the coupling member with reference to the opening. To the other end portion 53 is attached one end of the tube 49. Surrounding the extremity 52 and secured thereto 5 between the flange portion 54 and the annulus 55 by suitable fastening members, such as the screws 56, is a hemispherical, concave, dished or cup-shaped member 51 of flexible material, such as soft rubber, having a thin, tapering edge portion 58. This cup member is adapted to be pressed against the flesh of the users throat about the tracheotomy opening, the thin tapering edge conforming to the irregularities thereof to make a substantially air-tight seal. The cup member is heldin positionby the strap or ribbon 59 which encircles the users neck being connected to oppositesidesof the plate member 60 which is supported by the tube 5| between flanged portions 54 and 6 l thereon.

whilezthezfeatures of this invention have been disclosedin various specific structures, it isof course understood that various-modifications may; be made in thedetails of construction withoutfdeparting from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

whatlissclaimed is:

1. An artificial larynx comprising a casing, a vibratory member in said casing, a larynx tone outlet from said casing, an air stream'inlet to said casing.'and means for removing substantially-. all the -'moisture from an air stream" supplied to said larynx before the air streamreaches-the vibratory member, saidmeans being positionedin the airstream inlet and comprising an air perfc-e rate member providing a moisture-collecting surface.

2.. An artificial larynx comprising a. casing, soundingr mechanism in said casing, a larynx'tone outlet from said casingyand an air stream inlet to said casing, said sounding; mechanism comprise ing areed member and asupporting member for saidtreedhsaidsupporting member being p0sitioned between the-air stream inlet and the reed so that the air-stream must pass aroundsaid supporting member and reverse its direction after entering-said-casing -in order to set the reed'in vibration-.

3. An artificial larynx comprising a casing;

sounding mechanism in said casing, a larynx tone v outlet from said casing, and an air stream inlet to said casing, said soundingmechanism,comprising a reed "member-and a supporting member for, said-.-reed, said supportingmember being positioned between the air stream inlet and the=reed so that the air stream mustpass around said, supporting member and reverse in direction after entering 'said'casing in order-to set theireed in vibration, said supporting member beinghollow and having a pointed end portion adjacent the air stream: inlet.

ROBERT R; RIESZ.. 

